Russia Will Not Deploy Missiles in European Part of Russia if U.S. Does Not Deploy Missiles in Europe

March 16 (EIRNS)—Russia will not deploy missiles in the European part of Russia if the U.S. does not deploy missiles in Europe now that Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty has been suspended, reported Sputnik. “We will take all the necessary reciprocal and symmetrical measures in order to ensure balance in the INF sphere. However, we do not plan to deploy our missiles, including in the European part of the country, as long as there are no U.S. facilities of this kind in Europe,” Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in an interview with Russian journal International Affairs published today.

He urged Europeans to prevent Washington from deploying its missiles in Europe, saying, “If the interests of providing security prevail and the Europeans do not wish to turn the continent into a lodgment for deploying American forces and the complete military-political and geopolitical submission to the U.S., they should oppose these plans [on the deployment of American missiles in Europe,] if there appear any,” reported TASS.